Heart Warming and Engrossing

From the opening shots as this small family circus rolls into another
town we are struck by how hardworking, courageous and creative they
are. As this richly satisfying documentary unfolds we come to care
deeply about the Ponce family we get to know through the lens of the
single camera and the perspective of director and one man film crew,
Aaron Schock.

Schock was there for Q and A at the Palm Springs film festival last
week where most of the questions were about what happened next. The
answers were as inspiring as the film. If you get a chance to see
Circo, don't miss it!

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

A glimpse into the lives of others

Director Aaron Schock had his camera following members of a circus
family in Mexico and they went about their daily life, performances and
road trips. This family which included 4 children, all performers,
roamed from one small town to the other to make a meagre living through
their performances - a dying art. Life was not easy, but even the
children seemed to be content with that life style.

Acting was flawless and often you think the it was done without the
family members knowing the camera was there. There was also a candid
look into the usual problems within a family, including the conflict
between the parents over the wellbeing of the children. Through this
film you will have a good, honest look into the lives of a family that
you would not otherwise relate to.

The bonus materials is good, too. An update on the family after the
film was done gives the viewing an interesting closure. I highly
recommended this film to anyone seeking a story in real life, and not
Hollywood escapism.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:

Eye-Opening Documentary

I found this documentary to be somewhat melancholic but eye-opening
regarding a small family owned circus traveling throughout Mexico. You
are witness to the terribly hard work that goes into its' operation for
quite small renumeration.

The family bonds are the cement that keeps it all together. I found the
children of the circus family to be the highlight of the film, with
their eternal optimism regardless of the circumstances.

The most distressing part of the documentary was to see how the animals
are housed and generally cared for.

The film contains a number of surprises, though, and goes in directions
that you don't expect. In total, it was a rather fascinating look at
the inner workings of a small traveling circus.